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Tour de France 2021: Behind the Scenes with Papa Sierra
Providing live aerial coverage of the most outstanding and highly respected bike riding competition in the world.
Papa Sierra’s gimbal line-up as they prep for live coverage of the Tour de France 2021.
Well before the Tour de France 2021 kicked off in Brest, Brittany, France on June 26, preparations were underway to broadcast the event worldwide. Race coverage requires the highest quality equipment, diligent technicians and an artful lens to convey the story of the most outstanding and highly respected bike riding competition in the world.
Enter Papa Sierra.
Based in Paris, France, Papa Sierra provides top-notch aerial shoots for cinema, events and advertising. A GSS partner for over five years, Papa Sierra owns and operates a full fleet of Gyro-Stabilized Systems gimbals used on helicopters and operated by some of the best technicians in the business.
Having covered this epic race for over a decade, Papa Sierra has the expertise and insight on just how and what to do. This year, they are utilizing two shooting helicopters each equipped with two gimbals – one with a wide angle lens and the other with a 45x telephoto lens for long zoom work. In addition to filming the race, these crews also provide stunning aerial footage of significant sites and landscapes crossing the route.
Here’s how it works: The director proposes a composition and the result becomes a team effort between the pilot and the operator. From a wide shot to a tight close-up of a cyclist, communication is essential to providing the director just what they are looking for. In this way, the coverage is an exciting information exchange between the aerial teams and the director who tells the story of the race using motorcycles and helicopters.
According to Frédéric SPRIET, Owner of Papa Sierra, the gimbal function they most heavily rely on is stability. “The stability of the gimbal allows the zoom to be carried out at very long focal lengths. This is an indispensable tool for covering sporting events such as car, boat and cycle races. GSS is the most stable gimbal in the world making it the perfect match for the most elite bike race in the world.”
In addition to “monstrous stability,” a gimbal function the operators appreciate is “Topshot in G mode” also known as POV mode or platform guided stabilization. This allows the operator to hold the racers in the shot during the heart-pounding final sprint through tiny villages at the end of each day’s race - even if the chopper is going too far and between buildings.
One of the many artful ways these seasoned operators provide an immersive audience experience is by utilizing the “magnificent 45x Canon lens with the Sony P50” to capture facial expressions and even discussions between the racers. This often happens during the mountain stages while flying at the same altitude as the cyclists.
Equipped with four GSS gimbals, SPRIET is confident his team will secure exactly what is needed all the way to the finish line.
For Tour de France 2021 coverage, check out TV: NBCSN Stream: Peacock.
For more information on Papa Sierra, go to https://papasierra.fr/en/. Photos by Stéphane Azouze.
“It is an exciting information exchange between the aerial teams and the director who tells the story of the race using motorcycles and helicopters.”
GSS at Cine Gear 2019
Cine Gear 2019 was a success yet again! Paramount Studios was an incredible venue to meet and greet both new and familiar faces. As always, we are so grateful to be part of this talented community. It was such a pleasure to catch up with friends and show off GSS tech in Los Angeles!
We can’t give enough thanks to Nathan Garofalos of Incline Dynamic Outlet, Patrick Longman from Active Camera Systems, and both Rob Drewett and Adam Sculthrop from Motion Impossible for the booth support. There’s nothing like working alongside friends and true experts in the field.
We’ll see you next year!
Aerial Cine Group Showcases Corail Helicopters
Journey to the stunning island of Mauritius in the latest video from Aerial Cine Group. Flying alongside Corail Helicopters, the island-based tour guides in the Caribbean and off the coast of South Africa, Aerial Cine Group explores the lush landscape off the eastern coast of Africa.
The video in this shoot was captured by Aerial Cine Group with our GSS 516 Red Helium and Angenieux Optimo 25-250. The results are phenomenal. This was a great way to market Corail Helicopters.
Aerial Cine Group, the Emmy-winning, Belgium-based aerial filming team, has gone global. You may have seen their work from the Red Bull Air Racing in Abu Dhabi, sailing in Miami, car chasing in Amsterdam, and more.
See more of Aerial Cine Group on Instagram @aerial_cine_group!
The Clients of GSS
What does it take to create the incredible documentaries you watch on The BBC, Discovery Channel and more? It starts with the best tech, outstanding customer service and state-of-the-art designs from a dedicated team. But don’t just take our word for it. Listen to these client testimonials from the most talented crews in the aerial cinematography industry.
“They are a step above...”
It’s all about the problem-solving abilities for Aerial Photographer Christian Turner from the US Air Force and Media Fusion. Our high-quality gimbal designs and 24/7 customer service speak for themselves, allowing Christian Turner to continue to capture the fastest aircraft around.
"It just made sense."
Emmy-winning Aerial Cameraman Skip Margetts of Helimedia wanted a partnership, not a sales pitch. With the ability to interchange cameras and lenses, Helimedia has created stunning footage on the Cape Town front for movies like Chappie (2015) and District 9 (2009) for over a decade.
“GSS is a group of excellence."
For IDO Aerials Co-Owner and Director of Photography Nathan Garofalos, accountability and consistency are crucial, and we can understand why. Since 2014, Incline Dynamic Outlet has created footage for the industry's biggest filmmakers: National Geographic, Warner Bros. Pictures and more.
“GSS has definitely set the bar high.”
Aerial Photographer Chris Higgins of the Edwards Air Force Base says his relationship with the GSS team boosts productivity. That engaging customer service really counts and makes a difference when he’s taking on the skies and capturing footage at jet speed.
"They care about my success."
Just like Winged Vision Founder Bob Mikkelson said, we do what others won't. Our partnership helps him capture awesome sporting event coverage of NASCAR, NHL, NFL and more. With stable footage, he gets in on the action both from land and in the air.
"GSS is a partner who we trust, and it works."
Alexander Brozek of CAMCAT-Systems agrees. GSS takes the time to answer questions. CAMCAT takes the European market by storm, taking on the 2017 British Golf Open and more with their remote-controlled cable system designed for aerial footage captures.
“It’s cutting edge, state of the art.”
Straight from Rogue Aviation Co-Owner Matt Barnes and Creative Director and Aerial Cinematographer Cory Hill, GSS is a family. Rogue Aviation has shot aerial work for The Mint 400 race and Pacific Flight Aviation flight school, and has been featured in commercial ads for all kinds of businesses and brands, like DuPont, BMW, and even in music videos!
Our amazing clients are the reason we do what we do. The art they continue to create inspires us to consistently innovate our gimbals for the best service and quality available.
See more testimonials here.
The GSS Cinema Pro+ captures United Arab Emirates National Day
Here’s one way to celebrate! In honor of December’s United Arab Emirates National Day and the life of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, an aircraft formation flew over Dubai in a spirit of unity, captured by a GSS Cinema Pro+!
In a collaboration between Navigation Films and Blue Sky’s Peter Degerfeldt, the plane formation, complete with eleven aircraft from Emirates, Etihad, Fly Dubai, Air Arabia and the Al Fursan Air Display Team, showcased color and teamwork in a course chartered by Sheikh Zayed. From the vantage point of an L39 Jet via the Baltic Bees, the video soared over Dubai and aircraft emblazoned with “Year of Zayed.”
The video, directed by Mike Charlton and produced by Akash Kingston, contains jet footage by Peter Degerfeldt and GSS technician Vicky Degerfeldt. Thanks to the Baltic Bees team members Valery Sobolev, Anatolij LIsenkov and Artyom Soloduha, this incredible fleet came to life.
UAE National Day celebrates the joining of the seven emirates in 1971 and the first president, Sheikh Zayed, typically celebrated with fireworks and air shows.
This was an amazing capture by Blue Sky Aerials and Navigation Films. We are so proud to see our technology used in ways that continue to push and innovate the filming industry!
Follow us on Instagram and Facebook to see more.
Award-Winning Teton Gravity Research
Last year, Teton Gravity Research created an awesome new project with their Cinema Pro+ and took home Powder’s Movie of the Year Award.
Their film Far Out goes global, from the Albanian Alps to Girdwood, Alaska. What do the world’s most wild mountain ranges have to offer? More than 30 of the most daring bike, ski and snowboard athletes find out. This epic chronicle took one of the coveted awards during Powder Magazine’s 19th Annual Powder Awards in December, an event which honors the best athletes and artists in the ski community.
Check out the trailer for Far Out below.
We are a proud sponsor of this film. As we have seen time and time again with dozens of the team’s incredible films, TGR never fails to deliver. Our client’s amazing work inspires us to push gimbal technology to new levels so they can achieve new perspectives.
A huge congrats to the TGR crew on this awesome win!
What will TGR create next? Be the first to know by following us on Instagram and Facebook!
Shot with GSS, By Blue Sky Aerial
Blue Sky Aerial & Specialist Filming has taken their Cinema Pro gimbal to great heights. Their latest showreel combines clips from feature films and internationally broadcasted commercials. From Eurovision and Director Paul Feig’s Spy (2015), big-budget projects have included Blue Sky’s aerial footage through urban and natural landscapes for stunning climactic scenes.
Blue Sky, founded in 1984 by Peter Degerfeldt and Göran Widenby, combines cinematography with incredible, innovative stunts and techniques. The team rigs their gimbal across all platforms–helicopter, car, boat and wire– and coordinates the wildest aerial stunts and captures. Their clients include the BBC, National Geographic, 20th Century Fox and more.
We are so proud to see one of our gimbals used for exciting feats.
For more of our clients’ projects,
visit Shot with GSS
Fitting the DNA of Teton Gravity Research
Earlier this year, GSS client Teton Gravity Research, an action sports media company, shared this custom feature about their journey with GSS their new GSS Cinema Pro +, and we are so proud to see our gimbal in these incredibly versatile projects.
“GSS really fits our DNA. It’s the best five-axis gimbal in the world.”
– TGR Co-Founder Todd Jones
TGR formed more than two decades ago and since created thirty-two sports culture-focused films with no signs of stopping.
Check out how TGR uses their GSS gimbal to capture winter sports across the globe in the video above and learn more about their award-winning films here.
Learn more about the Cinema Pro + and it’s capabilities here.
Aerial Camera Systems meets the Cineflex Pro +
GSS customer Aerial Camera Systems received their first GSS Cineflex Pro + this summer and inaugurated their new gimbal at this year’s Wimbledon Championships.
This system is contoured with the Grass Valley LDX-C86N Compact Camera and Canon CJ45 lens. For the first time, the Cineflex Pro + will help capture the legendary hoisted aerial shots of the All England Club in UHD/HDR. GSS’s newest customer has added to their state of the art gimbals and will now have the option of using their GSS Cineflex Pro + or Cineflex gimbals for various broadcast projects.
“We’re delighted to add the Cineflex Pro + to our inventory of stabilized gimbals. We’ve made some significant investments in equipment this year, recognizing the growing demand for 4K UHD formats.”
Operations Director Dave Whitlock
We look forward to the content ACS will release in the future with their new GSS gimbal, which will allow them to take on new payloads and revolutionize camera stability in the European market. ACS plans to use the Cineflex Pro + at upcoming sporting events this August.
Learn more about the Cineflex Pro + and all its capabilities here.
If you’re located in England, rent ACS gimbals and learn more about past projects from the Royal Wedding, Commonwealth Games and more at aerialcamerasystems.com.